On June 27, 2025, Upcyclers Creative Hub proudly participated in the Multisectoral Roundtable on Youth Employability hosted at the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) in Westlands, Nairobi. This strategic convening forms a cornerstone of our Youth Climate Action Accelerator (YCAA) project, which seeks to bridge the gap between youth training and climate-smart employment in urban informal settlements like Mathare.
This high-level roundtable brought together a diverse and committed group of stakeholders:
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
- Plan International
- Safaricom Foundation
- Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) – Ajira Digital & TVET
- National Industrial Training Authority (NITA)
- Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF)
- GIZ
- Millennium Water Alliance
- Toolkit Africa, Open Bessoco, Bemos Energy, E-Mobilis, and DRC
- Government of Nairobi County
- Kitui Youth Association
- KNCICC & KNNCC
- Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI)
We examined the structural challenges and transformative opportunities facing youth employment in Kenya—particularly within the green, digital, and construction sectors.
Key Themes from the Roundtable:
- Reforming TVET to Serve the Green Economy
There was strong consensus on the need to align TVET curricula with labor market realities, especially emerging sectors like clean energy, circular economy, and regenerative agriculture. Stakeholders proposed co-developing Eco-TVET tracks accredited by NITA and supported through KEPSA and YEDF, with a commitment to launch pilot courses in five Nairobi institutions. - Co-Creating Jobs through Public-Private Collaboration
The private sector, NGOs, and government representatives committed to building joint incubation hubs in Mathare and Korogocho. These spaces will serve as training, innovation, and job placement centers. Safaricom Foundation and Toolkit Africa will lead the digital infrastructure component, while CRS and Plan International will support youth mentorship and cooperative development. - Youth Employment as Climate Justice
Participants affirmed that youth employment is not just an economic issue—it is a matter of dignity, environmental justice, and social equity. With urban youth among the hardest hit by climate shocks, creating climate-conscious jobs is essential to both adaptation and inclusive growth. - Monitoring Impact and Ensuring Accountability
The roundtable proposed a real-time impact dashboard to track employment outcomes, enterprise success rates, and carbon reduction impacts of YCAA initiatives. E-Mobilis will support digital tracking, and Kitui Youth Association will help anchor youth-led monitoring structures.
Next Steps: Toward a Joint Action Plan
As a result of this convening, a Joint Action Plan is being developed, focusing on:
- Curriculum reform
- Creation of two green innovation hubs
- Financing mechanisms for youth-led climate enterprises
- A robust monitoring and evaluation framework
The plan is expected to roll out in Q3 2025, with a shared commitment to inclusivity—ensuring at least 40% female participation and targeted outreach to vulnerable urban settlements.
Conclusion
We remain steadfast in our belief that every job matters. When we empower youth with the tools to lead climate solutions, we are not just solving unemployment—we are investing in a resilient, equitable future. The Multisectoral Roundtable proved that Kenya is ready to back this vision with bold partnerships, deep collaboration, and collective accountability.
We look forward to sharing progress as we move from planning to impact.
#YCAA #GreenJobs #TVETReform #YouthEmployment #ClimateJustice #InclusiveGrowth #UpcyclersCreativeHub